Big deal for Lockheed Martin: $60M contract for UK defense

Published: Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 2:24 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 6, 2014 at 2:24 p.m.

Many of the employees at Lockheed Martin's plant in Ocala will have enough work for the next five years now that the company has announced a $60 million contract with the United Kingdom defense department.

The contract will be shared between Lockheed Martin's Ocala and Orlando facilities and includes replacing parts, supplying spare systems and on-site technical service for the UK's Apache helicopter inventory, said Paul Sudlow, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin in Ocala.

Not all of the 900 Ocala plant employees will be engaged in this work, but many are cross-trained for a variety of projects and can be shifted to the Apache helicopter work, Sudlow said.

The new Lockheed Martin contract is through AgustaWestland, a British/Italian vertical lift aircraft company that provides integrated operational support to the United Kingdom.

"We're definitely happy to continue to supply our customers and bring work to Ocala," Sudlow said.

Specifically, the contract is for the service of both the targeting and piloting systems of the popular military helicopter. More than 1,200 "modernized target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensor" systems have been installed in the helicopters, all of which were partially made in Ocala.

One part of the contract is to provide spares and support for the helicopters' advanced piloting system, which offers pilots night vision and the ability to fly through atmospheric disturbances and inclement weather.

The contract also includes servicing and replacing the helicopters' targeting acquisition systems, which lock onto targets and allow the two-person crews to focus on other issues.

"Working with AgustaWestland, we developed (the) product support strategy designed to optimize system readiness and mission effectiveness," Mike Taylor, Apache international programs director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a press release. "This contract is a cost-effective support solution to ensure supply availability of (the two Apache support systems), providing U.K. soldiers with mission-critical situational awareness and targeting accurbased in Bethesda, Md., and is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 115,000 people worldwide. It is principally engaged in the research, design, development and manufacture, and integration of advanced technology systems for both the military and the aerospace industry. The company's net sales for 2013 was $45.4 billion, according to a press release.

<p>Many of the employees at Lockheed Martin's plant in Ocala will have enough work for the next five years now that the company has announced a $60 million contract with the United Kingdom defense department.</p><p>The contract will be shared between Lockheed Martin's Ocala and Orlando facilities and includes replacing parts, supplying spare systems and on-site technical service for the UK's Apache helicopter inventory, said Paul Sudlow, a spokesman for Lockheed Martin in Ocala.</p><p>Not all of the 900 Ocala plant employees will be engaged in this work, but many are cross-trained for a variety of projects and can be shifted to the Apache helicopter work, Sudlow said.</p><p>The new Lockheed Martin contract is through AgustaWestland, a British/Italian vertical lift aircraft company that provides integrated operational support to the United Kingdom.</p><p>"We're definitely happy to continue to supply our customers and bring work to Ocala," Sudlow said.</p><p>Specifically, the contract is for the service of both the targeting and piloting systems of the popular military helicopter. More than 1,200 "modernized target acquisition designation sight/pilot night vision sensor" systems have been installed in the helicopters, all of which were partially made in Ocala.</p><p>One part of the contract is to provide spares and support for the helicopters' advanced piloting system, which offers pilots night vision and the ability to fly through atmospheric disturbances and inclement weather.</p><p>The contract also includes servicing and replacing the helicopters' targeting acquisition systems, which lock onto targets and allow the two-person crews to focus on other issues.</p><p>"Working with AgustaWestland, we developed (the) product support strategy designed to optimize system readiness and mission effectiveness," Mike Taylor, Apache international programs director at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, said in a press release. "This contract is a cost-effective support solution to ensure supply availability of (the two Apache support systems), providing U.K. soldiers with mission-critical situational awareness and targeting accurbased in Bethesda, Md., and is a global security and aerospace company that employs about 115,000 people worldwide. It is principally engaged in the research, design, development and manufacture, and integration of advanced technology systems for both the military and the aerospace industry. The company's net sales for 2013 was $45.4 billion, according to a press release.</p><p><i>Contact Fred Hiers at fred.hiers@starbanner.com and 397-5914.</i></p>